The Importance of Culture to Neuköll

Neukölln has had a rather negative image and is still often spoken about as a prominent example of a number of social problems in urban environments. This image problem was made more endemic when headlines like “Last Stop Neukölln“ (1997) or „Neukölln: Map of Fear“ (2008). The media tend to portray Neukölln bleakly as being culturally and socially devastated. There are, without a doubt, considerable problems still in evidence. Yet existing measures have already helped considerably, especially in terms of education and culture. This holds true for 48 Stunden Neukölln as well as for a many local individuals and those from further afield, who feel called upon to facilitate communication between members of different groups dwelling so close to each other.

One of the festival's accomplishments has been to allay these fears and prejudice towards Neukölln. The festival provides an opportunity to explore an area that is still, for many, unknown. In the process, unjustified fear of northern Neukölln has been overcome and masses of people come to explore the area.

Contemporary art confronts social reality in which unemployment, a lack of sufficient and huge quantities of young people who don't complete their educations and rundown blocks have been met by new impulses, including sustainable strategies for developing local culture. 48 Stunden Neukölln demands a certain acceptance of diversity. And change is palatable: some areas of the district have become established throughout Berlin as attractive areas for going out such as “Reuterkiez”, the area around “Richardplatz”, “Boddin-“ and “Weserstraße”. At the same time, this new attractive status gives rise, with reason, to fears of gentrification. A number of international artists as well as young people from all over the world has altered perceptions of the district. Along with the current blossoming of cultural and sub-cultural activity, it is essential that sustainable solutions be found for political and social problems within this still “problematic” part of town.

48 Stunden Neukölln has developed into an occasion when members of the most diverse social and ethnic groups interact. Recognition of this came in the form of 48 Stunden Neukölln has facilitated contacts between the most divergent social and ethnic groups. This accomplishment was recognised in 2008 when “Kulturnetzwerk Neukölln” was awarded the “Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft e.V.” (based in in Bonn) „Kulturpreis“ for 48 Stunden Neukölln. The jury explained its decision thusly:

48 Stunden Neukölln offers, in the most literal sense, provides development assistance to the district and the denizens thereof, for participating artists as well as for culture in the broadest sense of the word. Neukölln’s residents are the most innovative force the district has […] The idea of filling an entire district with the arts for a 48 hour long period provides a lively atmosphere and makes the creative potential inherent in the area more evident in a unique and persuasive manner. The festival is not, however, merely worthy of an award for what occurs during one weekend; the way it is organised and carried out is equally remarkable in the way that it is active at grassroots level. It has led to the formation of networks in every neighbourhood involved between artists located therein. This is an example of a district presenting itself well, thereby highlighting how the arts do not merely on a symbolic level, function as a motor for improvements on a local level.

In the Autumn of 2009, the festival was awarded the “Kulturmarken”-Award given by the Causales agency, declaring it to be the “Trendmarke“ of the year for 2009 in the German-speaking world. Their decision was explained thusly: “the festival confronts the negative image of the district with creativity and individual initiative and, in the process, motivates residents to participate in cultural exchange between the most diverse ethnic groups.“

The festival has enabled the district to present itself as home to multicultural, diverse, tolerant and vibrant arts scene. Culture in Neukölln and the thriving 48-hour long event might not have sprung from the most prosperous environment; on the contrary, it arose from an atmosphere of poverty, uncertainty and conflict. This breeding ground has developed, over the last few years, into a place that people flock to for a chance to experience creative energy, and the fruits of these processes can be savoured during the festival. The gradual progression from a being a deprived area to a flourishing place for the arts is in full swing.